California Attorney General Rob Bonta Talks Tariff Ruling

Summary

Bloomberg Talks

Episode: California Attorney General Rob Bonta Talks Tariff Ruling
Date: February 21, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California

---

Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, focusing on the recent Supreme Court decision striking down the Trump administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose extensive tariffs. Bonta discusses the implications of the ruling, prospects for consumer and business refunds, and future possibilities for tariff regimes.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Supreme Court Ruling on Trump Tariffs

• Host summarizes the decision: The Court found that President Trump’s unilateral use of IEEPA for large-scale tariffs was unprecedented and exceeded the bounds of presidential authority.

  • “No president has invoked the statute to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs, of this magnitude, and that the lack of historical precedent… suggested that the tariffs extended beyond his legitimate reach.” [00:45 – 01:41]

• Rob Bonta’s reaction:

  • Not surprised by the outcome, affirming the unlawfulness of Trump’s actions and expressing relief for Americans, especially Californians, who faced higher prices and job losses.
  • “This is important relief delivered to them. And it calls out Trump's unlawfulness for what it is. He literally acted illegally to raise prices for the American people after saying that he was going to lower prices on day one.” [01:41 – 02:33]

Possibility of Refunds for Tariffs Paid

• Host question: Is there a chance for consumers and companies to get refunds on the $170+ billion collected? [02:33]

• Bonta responds affirmatively: The Supreme Court’s decision did not limit itself to future tariffs, so retrospective (retroactive) relief is possible.

  • Details the legal path: businesses can pursue refund actions in the Court of International Trade, and should also be eligible for interest on unlawfully held funds.
  • “I think you're going to see a lot of refund actions being brought against the Trump administration for these unlawful tariffs.” [02:51 – 03:36]

• California’s own potential action:

  • The state is evaluating its options and may pursue refunds in court for any direct harm suffered by California.
  • “To the extent that California has been hurt by these tariffs, had to pay higher prices because of these tariffs, yes, we could pursue a refund action in the Court of International Trade, and we're discussing all of our options now.” [03:49 – 04:28]

The Future of Tariffs and Presidential Authority

• Trump Administration’s Statements:

  • Despite the decision, Trump has signaled intent to pursue tariffs via other statutes.
  • Bonta sees this as “an embarrassing loss” yet expects further attempts to impose tariffs through different legal means.
  • “Some of his statements today were very remarkable, almost claiming victory in the face of very clear defeat… It was unlawful and it was not even close. It was clearly unlawful. A 6-3 loss in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.” [05:05 – 06:02]

• Legal limits on alternative approaches:

  • While other statutes may allow for tariffs, they come with statutory prerequisites and limitations in terms of duration and amount.
  • “Those other statutes don't give full discretion to implement and impose all the tariffs that he tried to impose under aipa… Those other statutes have limits. They have prerequisites. They have limits in duration, limits in amount. So he may… use those other statutes, but he will be limited.” [06:20 – 07:08]

• California’s continued vigilance:

  • Bonta reminds that California has challenged the Trump administration frequently (“58 lawsuits in less than 58 weeks”) and is prepared to do so again if necessary.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rob Bonta on the broad relief from the ruling:
  • “This is important relief delivered to them. And it calls out Trump's unlawfulness for what it is. He literally acted illegally to raise prices for the American people…” [01:41]
• On retroactive relief:
  • “You go to the Court of International Trade… and you seek a refund through what's called a refund action. And typically, generally, and it would be fair and just here, if your money is unlawfully withheld from you… you should get interest on it.” [02:51 – 03:36]
• On the Trump administration's next moves:
  • “He very may well try to implement other tariffs through other pathways… we've brought 58 lawsuits in less than 58 weeks… If he breaks the law again and hurts California again, take him to court.” [05:05 – 06:02]
• On the Kavanaugh dissent and limits on presidential authority:
  • “Kavanaugh dissent did sort of set forth a blueprint… But…the majority makes this, too, is that those other statutes don't give full discretion… So he may take action using those other statutes, but he will be limited.” [06:20 – 07:08]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:45] – Host introduces the Supreme Court’s decision and stakes
• [01:41] – Rob Bonta’s initial reaction and summary of implications
• [02:33] – Discussion of refunds and possible legal actions
• [03:49] – California’s plans for seeking refunds
• [04:28] – Bonta addresses Trump’s response and the future of tariffs
• [06:20] – Examination of the Kavanaugh dissent and alternate legal pathways

---

Summary Takeaway:
Attorney General Bonta frames the Supreme Court decision not just as a constitutional rebuke to overreach, but as a practical win for consumers, workers, and small businesses. He lays out a real pathway for legal redress in the form of refund actions, signals California’s readiness to continue fighting unauthorized tariffs, and strikes a tone of watchful vigilance as the tariff debate moves to the next legal battlegrounds.

Transcript

[Matt Rogers]

This is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Hey, so what if you could boost the WI fi to one of your devices when you need it most? Because Xfinity WI fi can. And what if your WI fi could fix itself before there's even really a problem? Xfinity is so reliable. It does that, too. What if your wifi had parental instincts? Xfinity WI fi is part nanny, part ninja, protecting your kids while they're online. And finally, what if your wifi was like, the smartest WI fi? Yeah, it's W is so smart, it makes everything work better together. Bottom line, Xfinity is smart and reliable. You deserve the peace of mind of having WI fi that's got your back, Xfinity. Imagine that.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News Our coverage of the Trump tariff decision continues with a closer look at the Supreme Court's majority opinion, which zeroed in on what it called a unilateral and transformative expansion of the president's authority. Writing for the Plural, Chief Justice John Roberts said, quote, that in IPA's half century of existence, no president has invoked the statute to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs, of this magnitude, and that the lack of historical precedent, coupled with the breadth of authority that the president claimed suggested that the tariffs extended beyond his legitimate reach. That issue a core part of the three lawsuits that led to this case, including the lawsuit pressed by 12 Democratic state attorneys general, including from California's Rob Bonta. He joins us right now to talk a little bit more about this decision. All right, first, what was your initial reaction at 10:00am Eastern Time? That is, when you heard about the decision?

[Rob Bonta]

Not surprising what I expected, having been in the courtroom at the US Supreme Court for the oral argument and very affirming. And most of all, I feel that it's an important amount of relief that's being delivered for the American people, including Californians, for consumers who are paying higher prices, for workers who've lost their jobs, for businesses, including small mom and pops, who have struggled. Some have shuttered their businesses, never to open again. So this is important relief delivered to them. And it calls out Trump's unlawfulness for what it is. He literally acted illegally to raise prices for the American people after saying that he was going to lower prices on day one. It was a lie, his statement, and it was improper and inappropriate what he has done. He owes many businesses a refund and needs to pay up.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

Well, I'm Curious about that. I mean, the York governor, the California governor, Gavin Newsom, has already weighed in on the 170 plus billion dollars that have been collected from consumers and companies. Do you think there's any real legitimate chance that those companies, those consumers, are actually going to see a refund of any portion of that?

[Rob Bonta]

Absolutely.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

You do.

[Rob Bonta]

And, you know, the opinion could have said that we are making a decision that is prospective only, that going forward, Trump can no longer use these unlawful tariffs. They didn't say that. Which makes it clear that retroactive retrospective relief is on the table and there's a pathway to do this. You go to the Court of International Trade, if you're a business and importer that had to pay the unlawful tariffs and you seek a refund through what's called a refund action. And typically, generally, and it would be fair and just here, if your money is unlawfully withheld from you, if you had to pay something based on an unlawful tariff, you should get interest on it. So I think you're going to see a lot of refund actions being brought against the Trump administration for these unlawful tariffs that have been struck down.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

Well, is that something that California, as a state plans to do? I mean, you know, as we go through this process, when it comes to demanding refunds, I mean, is that action that California would take?

[Rob Bonta]

It's very, very potentially, yes. You know, you know, we had a case in the Northern District of California that we are now will be transferred to or commenced in the Court of International trade, which the U.S. supreme Court today said is the appropriate court. And that's where we could seek a refund action for, For California. For. Of California. Not, not the businesses, not, not the. Who paid the, the, the unlawful tariffs. So to the extent that California has been hurt by these tariffs, had to pay higher prices because of these tariffs, yes, we could pursue a refund action in the Court of International Trade, and we're discussing all of our options now.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

Well, we will certainly keep an eye out there for any action. I do want to ask about the statement that you issued following the Supreme Court decision. You wrote that the Trump administration's illegal and chaotic tariff regime has come to an end. Of course, in the hours since we've heard from the president directly saying that, you know, he still plans to pursue tariffs. It's just ipa that was ruled against here today. And with that in mind, I mean, how do you see this evolving? You think about all the different sections that he can tap. It seems like when it comes to the tariff regime, it's Actually, far from over.

[Rob Bonta]

I think he'll try again. And, you know, some of his statements today were very remarkable, almost claiming victory in the face of very clear defeat. I mean, this is an embarrassing loss in front of the US Supreme Court on his, you know, key policy proposal of his administration. It was unlawful, and it was not even close. It was clearly unlawful. A 6, 3 loss in front of the U.S. supreme Court. And he very may well tried to implement other tariffs through other pathways. Those were always available to him. To be clear, there's prerequisites for those tariffs to be implemented. There's limits on those tariffs. There's limits in duration and amount. So we'll see what he does, and we'll assess. We've brought 58 lawsuits in less than 58 weeks against the Trump administration for repeated illegal conduct. And so we will assess whether any of his actions going forward in the tariff space are lawful or not. And if he breaks the law again and hurts California again, take him to court.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

Well, I'm just real quickly, though, Rob, I mean, looking at the dissenting opinions, and particularly the Kavanaugh opinion, who explicitly, in his words, said the president did have the authority, does that become the basis for the Trump administration to move forward with something even under the construct of ieber?

[Rob Bonta]

Well, IPA is off the table, so he can longer use IEBA to impose tariffs. He tried, he lost. The IPA doesn't mention the word tariffs has never been used in nearly 50 years of its existence to impose tariffs. But, yeah, the Kavanaugh dissent did sort of set forth a blueprint that Trump might want to pursue in terms of other statutes that do provide the opportunity for him potentially to implement tariffs. But the point I was making, and the majority makes this, too, is that those other statutes don't give full discretion to implement and impose all the tariffs that he tried to impose under aipa. And he tried to impose tariffs against every single one of our trade partners under aipa. Those other statutes have limits. They have prerequisites. They have limits in duration, limits in amount. So he may, he may take action using those other statutes, but he will be limited.

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

All right. Have to leave it there. Really appreciate your time. That is California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

[Matt Rogers]

Running my small business was like playing basketball, five on one, and I was the one. Now QuickBooks gives me access to a

[Podcast Host / Interviewer]

team of AI agents and trusted experts for the assists.

[Matt Rogers]

I need nothing but nick outdoit with intuit. QuickBooks.

[Rob Bonta]

Feature availability varies by product.